Welcome 2017 @ Westin Sohna Resort and Spa

Still deciding last minute plans for the New Year? You have some lucrative offer at the 11th hour! The Westin Sohna Resort and Spa offers specially curated packages for you. Rejuvinate your senses with the stay packages starting from INR 30,000 plus taxes per room per night. It will be more merrier because of the exotic location of the resort and also the unparalleled hospitality combined with the 'feel well' concept. So, you will be all jazzed up and energetic for 2017. So, here is the offer!

New Year Celebrations @ Westin Sohna Resort and Spa

Offer at Westin Sohna Resort and Spa

Being born and brought up in Delhi, I am so used to its markets and exactly know where to shop for my needs. Travellers need to know where exactly to go and buy stuff for various needs of theirs. I don't say that I have the best knowledge of markets to shop in Delhi but would try to put it across with the best of my knowledge. So here you go!

Popular markets to shop in Delhi

There are markets that are whole sale markets. One can buy from anything to everything there.  The stuff is very good and at cheap prices. The only thing is that these markets are extremely crowded with narrow lanes and a lot of surfing needs to be done. These are Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazar. I have always gone to Chandni Chowk for wedding sarees for all ranges starting from gifting sarees till wedding sarees. Men and women Suits, dresses for kids, jewellery. Khari Bawli Is the stop shop for all spices, pulses, dry fruits. Bhageerath Place for Chandeliers and other electrical appliances. Main reason to shop there is again quality, variety and best prices and bargains. Chandni Chowk is also very very famous for food. People specially go there to experience food.

Connaught Place

Budget markets famous for clothing are Sarojini Nagar, Kamla Nagar and Janpath. You will find many trendy and cheap stuff there. These are hub for collegiates. You will find many small and quirky food joints as well.
Sarojini Nagar markets you will even find kitchen and linens and even trendy curtains stuff as well.

If one wants to shop for marbles and tiles, one must go to Raja Garden and Mangol Puri.

For furniture

Nidhi KM

Getting prepared for a beginner ski holiday

I am always fascinated by ski. Now that my kids are entering the adventurous or curious age, they want to ski. So, we decided to take them skiing. Little I knew that skiing requires preparation. To seasoned skiers, this statement may look foolish. I just thought to explore about skiing online when I observed that there is a full fledged planning and preparation required for skiing. Below is what I learnt

1. First and foremost, choose a skiing destination that is favourable for beginners. In India, beginners can start from Auli.

2. Try and book for a ski resort so they can help you in every manner for your skiing requirements and can provided you well trained staff.

3. If you are skiing with kids, avoid them ski before 3 years of his/her age and the child must must be potty trained

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Nidhi KM

I have been visiting Shani Mandir since last 15-20 years. Last I had gone was like some 3 years back. Have been craving to go since long but wasn't able to as kids were small and didn't want to stand in long queues with them. From last time's experience and good hope, I took a chance again to visit the temple. Glad that we made it. We started by 8 am and reached Shani Mandir by 12.30. It was a nice weather in mid December. Thankfully no queue and no rush. We straight away entered the temple after taking a packet of stuff for ceremony in the temple. It was a new scene this time. I could see Shani Dev's statue on all 4 sides for the ease of pilgrims. People were coming and going fast. After Darshan, we headed to Lord Shri Krishna's temple and after visiting the same, we worshipped people tree and returned to our cab . There was a feeling of satisfaction. viharin-com-Statue of Shani Dev outside Shani Mandir Statue of Shani Dev outside Shani Mandir With a peaceful heart, we headed for Vrindavan where we had booked a room in an Ashram called Radhey Shyam. It was 3.30 already and after having tea, we pushed off for Banke Bihari. There also, it was less rush. So we all and kids were able to do the Darshan nicely. As we were very tired by now, just wanted to have food and sleep. Food was delicious at Radhey Shyam Ashram. There was an overall degradation in hospitality though and cleanliness of rooms and bathrooms. We went to Nand Gaon and to see he temple where Shri Krishna used to stay. This is tge place where Shri Krishna was brought up. It is said that the whole family statue was recovered from underground. There is a belief that a cow used to eat and drink very well but never yielded milk. When people followed it , they realized that the Cow used to yield milk at the place where the whole family statue was recovered. viharin-com-On the way to Nand Gaon On the way to Nand Gaon Then we went to see the Govardhan Parvat which doesn't seem to be a parvat any more. Though there is a boundary line but I could never imagine a parvat decaying to ground. viharin-com-On the way to Govardhan Parvat On the way to Govardhan Parvat All my fascination about the story of lifting Govardhan Parvat by Shri Krishana vanished in a second. However, I felt good to atleaset see it. Many pilgrims visit it bare foot some even do the rounds by lying down fully on the ground at every step. Such an exercise and faith. viharin-com-sarson-farms Mustard or Sarson Farms Overall a graeat experience ! Loved it. Nidhi KM © Viharin.com

I have been visiting Shani Mandir since last 15-20 years. Last I had gone was like some 3 years back. Have been craving to go since long but wasn't able to as kids were small and didn't want to stand in long queues with them. From last time's experience and good hope, I took a chance again to visit the temple. Glad that we made it. We started by 8 am and reached Shani Mandir by 12.30. It was a nice weather in mid December. Thankfully no queue and no rush. We straight away entered the temple after taking a packet of stuff for ceremony in the temple. It was a new scene this time. I could see Shani Dev's statue on all 4 sides for the ease of pilgrims. People were coming and going fast.  After Darshan, we headed to Lord Shri Krishna's temple and after visiting the same, we worshipped people tree and returned to our cab . There was a feeling of satisfaction.

Statue of Shani Dev outside Shani Mandir

With a peaceful heart, we headed for Vrindavan where we had booked a room in an Ashram called Radhey Shyam. It was 3.30 already and after having tea, we pushed off for Banke Bihari. There also, it was less rush. So we all and kids were able to do the Darshan nicely.

As we were very tired by now, just wanted to have food and sleep. Food was delicious at Radhey Shyam Ashram. There was an overall degradation in hospitality though and cleanliness of rooms and bathrooms.

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Nidhi KM

Restaurant review- Arabian Nites, Gurgaon

Arabian Nites, the jazzy name rings a bell in my mind. I quickly agreed to the review request. I was so curious to visit the outlet. I felt like childhood connection with the name. So, we reached the restaurant as decided.

Ambiance at Arabian Nites

The outlet is small and is at a strategic prime location in Super Mart 1 in Gurgaon, DLF Phase 4. As I entered the little the place, I realized how small the outlet is but still done up so well to make it look spacious, quirky and perfect.

Arabian Nites

I loved the setting. Kitchen is an open transparent kitchen. The outlet has few tables and chairs placed in a way to provide adequate space to diners while they see the food getting prepared. Its an outlet for all ages. Loved the way it was done up!

Arabian Nites, famous for Lebanese street food is another branch to the Main restaurant in South Delhi. I chose for a Non Veg Platter that had a shawarma, 2 Khubuz , 2 pieces grilled chicken, baba Ghanoush and hummus.

Sultan Platter

I loved the Shawarma that was irresistible. It was stuffed with chicken pieces right from the first till the last byte. Chicken was soft and melted in my mouth. It had perfect blend of spices satiating my taste buds. Just loved it. Bread was soft and good. It went well with hummus and Baba Ghanoush. Grilled chicken was good. It had a skin that reminded me of half fried egg. I was already full by the times I ate chicken. My favourite was Shawarma.

Service

Nidhi KM

Stylish The One at Le Meridien New Delhi

Stylish The One at Le Meridien New Delhi

I was at Le Meridien, Delhi with my kids and we were supposed to dine at The One , all day dining restaurant. When we entered the ambiance was perfect for a relaxed dine out. Since I was dining alone with my kids for the first time, I told them to behave well and of course they did. Restaurant staff was very friendly and heard them carefully. I realized that kids were able to explain their needs well and the hotel staff patiently heard them.

Ambiance at The One

Stylish red and black ambiance at The One created an aura of a nice and relaxed dining. Furniture was comfortable and contemporary. There was a lavish spread of buffet and live counters.

Buffet at The One

Food

HappyMongoLearning a great program for kids

We started using HappyMongoLearning study tool from September and I must tell you that its been a fantastic journey. I would say that indeed its the best I have done for them so far in studies. I saw instant results. First of all my elder one started craving for it when I did not touch HappyMongoLearning tool kit for two weeks. When I started the app, both of them climbed to it as if they were playing video game. Can you even imagine that my elder one himself got his pencil and workbook whereas he always asks me for it.

While my elder one explored all the tabs of the module, younger one wanted to do reading. He remembered from last time so much fun it was. I could see the strong concentration and focus they had for it. I can vouch that they have become smarter than the rest.

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Nidhi KM